Front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Tuesday December 5, 1995 featuring the launch of the BTM's W4 671 in the City of Ballarat's colours. Article by Andrew Laing. Features a colour photo of Richard Gilbert and Vern Robson leaning from the tram, with Len Millar inside. Photo by Ian Wilson. Notes comments by Peter Hiscock for the reinstatement of trams in Ballarat, and comments by the Chief Commissioner, Vern Robson. Article continues on the base of page 2.trams, tramways, city of ballarat, 671, ballarat city tramway, ceremonies

Article from page 9 of The News, Ballarat, Wednesday December 6, 1995 featuring the launch of the BTM's W4 671 in the City of Ballarat's colours. Features a black and white photo of 671 on the depot fan Notes comments by Peter Hiscock for the reinstatement of trams in Ballarat and comments by the Chief Commissioner, Vern Robson and the launch of the tram itself.trams, tramways, city of ballarat, 671, ballarat city tramway, ceremonies

Front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Tuesday December 8, 1995 featuring the plea by Peter Hiscock, executive director of Sovereign Hill for the return of trams to Ballarat streets. Article by Ian Haberfield. Features a photo of Peter and on page 2, black and white photo of 671 in Wendouree Parade. Article continues on page 2. Notes that a submission had been sent to the Federal Government for a feasibility study and that Federal Regional Development Minister Brian Howe who is responsible for the Better Cities program will be in Ballarat the following day.On page 1, in blue ink "&p2"trams, tramways, 671, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

1447.1 Top Part of front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Tuesday December 9, 1995. 1447.2 - top part of page 3 of the same date noting that it was unlikely the Ballarat would receive government funding under the Better Cities program for reintroduction of trams on Ballarat streets. Notes comments by the Federal Minister, Mr. Howe and Peter Hiscock. On page 1 is a small colour photo of 671 used as pointer to page 3 and on page 3, a cartoon by Burns about the Better cities program.trams, tramways, 671, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier Ballarat of 23/12/1995, titled "People need to have say on trams", written by W. Hoath, Boyle St. Ballarat. Notes that people should have a say on whether trams are returned and that they will be uneconomical. Has the paper and date details taped to the bottom right hand corner area of the cutting."p28" in blue ink in the bottom right hand corner.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Tuesday December 11, 1995 featuring the comment by Peter Hiscock director of Sovereign Hill , that federal refusal to fund the project would not halt the proposal. Article by Ian Haberfield. Features a photo of Peter Hiscock. Comments about costs, benefits of the project, and that the trams will be cherished by the community.trams, tramways, peter hiscock, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

1450.1 Top right hand corner part of front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Tuesday December 12, 1995 used as a pointer to an article on page 5, with a small colour photo of 671 1450.2 - Item from page 5, written by Leanne Middleton, noting that Mr. Peter Hiscock, Ballarat Tourism Board Chairman was 'very optimistic' about the possibility of funding for a feasibility study on the return of trams to Ballarat. Notes that is was possible that funding was likely after speaking to the Federal Minister, Mr. Howe. Item has Newspaper name and page details taped to back of cutting. trams, tramways, 671, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Cartoon by Burns of The Courier Ballarat of 12/12/1995, titled "Ballarat trams back on track" in the Letters to the Editor section. On the back of the cutting, taped on is the paper title, date and page number.trams, tramways, cartoons, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

1452.1 Bottom part of the front page of The Courier, Ballarat, Saturday December 16, 1995 featuring an announcement by Jenny Beacham, ALP candidate for Ballarat (Federal) the previous day that the Federal Government has agreed to jointly fund a feasibility study for the reintroduction of trams in Ballarat. Article by Ian Haberfield. Has the newspaper name, date and page number taped to the bottom portion of the cutting. 1452.2 - Part of page 4 of the same newspaper, with a continuation of the story from page 1. Reports on comments from Brian Howe, Federal Minister and State Opposition tourism spokesman, Steve Bracks. Has the newspaper name, date and page number taped to the bottom portion of the cutting. trams, tramways, funding, feasibility study, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor that appeared in The Courier, Saturday 16/12/1995 written by David Stabb, Clyde St. Ballarat, titled "Tram return a retrograde step". Notes that he lived in Hobart in the 1950's "choked with trams", also Ballarat in the 1960's also "choked with trams". Comments on Ballarat's reasonable public transport system and the Peter Hiscock's proposal is retrograde. On the rear of the cutting is the name of the paper, date and page number, taped on.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, hobart, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 4 of The Courier, Saturday 23/12/1995 written by Andrew McBride that Steamrail Ballarat backing the plans for the return of trams to Ballarat. Quotes Bill Musgrove, the convenor of Steamrail Ballarat, and that trams were not the problem, cars and trucks were.trams, tramways, steamrail, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 9 of The Courier, Thursday 28/12/1995 written by Ian Haberfield that a tentative date had been set for Jan. 23, 1996 for a public meeting to discuss the return of trams to Ballarat. Quotes Tourism Board Executive Director Andrew McEvoy. Includes a picture of tram 40, with destination of Sebastopol."X" in blue ink in top right hand cornertrams, tramways, public meeting, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 1 and 2 of The Courier, Monday 22/1/1996 written by Andrew McBride that a meeting is to be held the following day at the Ballarat Town Hall to form a group to push for the return of trams to Ballarat. Quotes Peter Hiscock, Sovereign Hill Executive Director and Andrew McEvoy, Ballarat Tourism Board, Executive Officer. Also has item about the $2m upgrade of Ballarat Railway Station. Includes a photo of Peter Hiscock looking along Sturt St. from Grenville St. Photo by Alan Marini."Franklins Fresh 329" stamp in top right hand corner in black ink.trams, tramways, public meeting, ballarat railway station, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 3 of The Courier, Wednesday 24/1/1996 written by Ian Haberfield reporting on the public meeting held the previous night at the Town Hall Ballarat. Quotes Peter Hiscock, Richard Gilbert, Jenny Beacham (Labor Candidate for Ballarat), Paul Jenkins, Vern Robson.trams, tramways, public meeting, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 5 of The Courier, Wednesday 24/1/1996 written by Ian Haberfield of the Ballarat City Commissioners adopting a proposal last night for a $2m upgrade to the facilities at Ballarat Railway station, including a major transport interchange for buses, taxis and trains. Has a photo of Acting CEO for Ballarat City Doug Forster, Ballarat West MLA Paul Jenkins and Ballarat Station Master, Jim Hevey looking at the plans. Includes a comment by Mr. Forster that the interchange would work well with any tram proposal in the future. Has a cartoon by Courier cartoonist, Burns, about the Intermodal - see image."X" in blue ink in top right hand corner/trams, tramways, ballarat railway station, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, Thursday 24/1/1996 written by D.H.Woodward of Finlay St. Brown Hill that the proposed feasibility study at the costs, problems and alternative projects that could be done instead."The Courier 24/1/96" along bottom of cutting in blue ink.trams, tramways, feasibility study, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Item in the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper, 25/1/1996 that the State Government had pledged excess W class trams to a planned Ballarat Tramway. Reports on the public meeting on the previous Tuesday, comments on proposals. Notes comments by Vern Robson, Chief Commissioner City of Ballarat, Public Transport Minister Alan Brown. Written by Claire Heaney. Has the newspaper details and date taped alongside item.trams, tramways, feasibility study, w-class trams, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, Thursday 25/1/1996 written by N. M. Gower, Dana St. Ballarat noting the involvement of the Brown Hill Progress Association in the founding of the museum tramway 25 years ago, referring to an item in the "In Retrospect 25 years ago" of the Courier, 20/1/1996."Thurs 25/1/96" along the bottom right hand side of the cutting in blue ink.trams, tramways, brown hill progress association, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Editorial Opinion of the Editor of The Courier, Thursday 25/1/1996 reviewing the reintroduction of trams to Ballarat, a long -term investment, enthusiastic meeting the previous Tuesday, and would be a good regional achievement.trams, tramways, editorial, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Newspaper cutting from The Courier, Ballarat, Saturday 27/1/1996 written by Ian Haberfield calling the community to unite on the tram issue, as they had done in Bendigo in 1972 commented by Vern Robson, Chief Commissioner City of Ballarat. Notes the involvement of the Bendigo community at the time, when he was acting Town Clerk for the City of Bendigo. He said they had to be a ground swell of support for the trams to get up in Ballarat.trams, tramways, community, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Newspaper cutting from The Courier, Ballarat, Saturday 27/1/1996 Saturday magazine section with a column written by the Chief Commissioner of the City of Ballarat, Vern Robson. Titled "1996 the year of elections" . Column discusses the forthcoming 1996 Council elections, Australia day celebrations and the recent public meeting to discuss the return of trams to Ballarat. Notes the forthcoming feasibility study and the support of the Federal and State governments in funding the study.trams, tramways, community, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, 29/1/1996 written by Martin Adriaans of Ballarat about all the problems of trams returning to Ballarat's streets and that Bendigo has them - so what!"29/1/96" in ink on the bottom edge.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Photocopy of two letters to the Editor (items 1466 and 1468) and cartoon titled "Ballarat Tram Conductor" by Burns on an A4 sheet of paper. Prepared by BTM member Frank Puls. Has dates and paper names written on the sheet and a note that the letter writer, D. H. Woodward - ex Ballaarat City Councillor/Mayor.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, cartoons, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, 31/1/1996 written by D.H. Woodward, Melbourne Road, Ballarat questioning the costs for returning trams to Ballarat, traffic problems, safety, use, depot, overhead wires and note that any decision should wait until an elected council returns. Cutting also contains a letter regarding the sale of the kiosk (View Point) and a Burns cartoon, about the "The Kennett Factor". See also items 1467 and 1469."31/1/96" in blue ink on the bottom edge and three "X" marks in black ink.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, Saturday 3/2/1996 written by Peter Hiscock, Chairman Ballarat Tourism Board replying to D.H. Woodward's (notes as former councillor) letter of 31/1/1996 (item 1468), commenting that the study should be done before knocking the project. Notes that the questions are valid, but the study should be done. Notes that Mr. Woodward has opposed many heritage projects. Also has a Burns cartoon about cable TV."Sat 3/2/96" in blue ink on top edge.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of The Courier, Wednesday 14/2/1996 written by Vera Parry of Warrenheip agreeing with Mr. Adriaans and D.H. Woodward's letters that the reintroduction of trams would cause many problems in Ballarat streets. Notes Perth's "motorised tram" and is a "delightful little journey". See items 1466 and 1468 also."Wed 14/2/96" in blue ink in top centre of cutting.trams, tramways, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from page 5 of The Courier, Monday 19/2/1996 written by Ian Haberfield and Brigitte Ellemor that funding for the tramway feasibility study would proceed under a coalition government. At the time, an election campaign was underway. Quotes Senator Macdonald, Opposition spokesman for Regional Development and Jenny Beacham, ALP Candidate for Ballarat who said the study would be axed under a Coalition Government. Has a photo of jenny Beacham as part of the article.trams, tramways, feasibility study, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from the front page of The Courier, Saturday 24/2//1996 written by Ian Haberfield with photo by Herman Ruyg of BTM W4 671 leaving the depot loaded on a truck the previous day end route to Melbourne to run on the city Circle tram route. Tram has "City Circle" showing in destination box. Notes comments by Peter Hiscock about the tram itself, the BTM works, and that Alan Brown, Public Transport Minister has granted permission for the tram to run on the City Circle.trams, tramways, btm, city circle, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Article from the front page 10 of The Courier, Saturday 24/2//1996 that the previous day Coalition big hitters (Liberal) Senators Ian Macdonald and Robert Hill were in Ballarat supporting Michael Ronaldson's campaign for a House of Representatives seat. Mr. Ronaldson was in hospital at the time unable to take part in the campaign. Senator Macdonald said that the Ballarat's tramway study would go ahead fully funded under a Coalition government. Has a photo of Senator Ian Macdonald along with Australian Chamber of Manufactures regional Manager Kay Macauley. Has newspaper details glued onto to the top of the cutting.trams, tramways, feasibility study, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival

Letter to the Editor of the Courier, Ballarat, Monday, 26/2/1996 written by Frank Puls (a BTM member) of Humffray St. Ballarat about the tram debate and that people should wait for the outcome of the Ballarat Tramway feasibility study before getting "hysterical", "but until then, the protesters appear to be jumping the gun." Has paper and details glued to right hand top edge of cutting. Collected by Frank Puls on behalf of the Museum.trams, tramways, feasibility study, letter to the editor, ballarat city tramway, ballarat revival